Sarah McIlwain

Sarah McIlwain is a seasoned professional in the field of product design and strategy. She currently serves as the Director of Content and Design at Abstract, a design collaboration platform.14 With over 15 years of experience, Sarah specializes in launching 0-1 products across various industries, including retail and streaming media.3

Professional Background

Sarah's expertise lies in product and design strategy, particularly in the realm of SaaS (Software as a Service) products for early-stage B2B startups. She offers tailored UX and product strategy solutions aimed at accelerating growth and transforming businesses.5

Roles and Responsibilities

At Abstract, Sarah's role involves:

• Overseeing the creative process of her team
• Translating the creative process into actionable strategies2
• Focusing on design documentation and decision-making4

Previous Experience

Before her current position, Sarah held several notable roles:

• Director of Product Design at Abstract
• Product Design Manager at Abstract
• Roles at other companies such as Whitespace and Blossom6

Education

Sarah holds a degree from the School of Visual Arts, which has likely contributed to her expertise in design.6

Thought Leadership

Sarah is known for her insights on design processes and documentation. She emphasizes the importance of documenting design decisions, stating that "Learning how to document design decisions enables rationale to become the tiebreaker".4 This approach highlights her focus on creating clear, rational design processes within teams.